New engines and tech arrive, for a price.

2016 Lexus RX review

Once centred around three-box sedans such as the BMW 5-Series or Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the segment has shifted so that well-appointed family SUVs have become the most important class for prestige brands.

BMW's best-seller this year is the X5, Audi's Q5 and Q7 comfortably outsell its A4 and A6 sedans and Jaguar Land Rover's four-wheel-drive arm delivers 10 times as many cars as its sporty side. Porsche will soon deliver four SUVs for every sports car it sells locally.

Mercedes-Benz' C-Class bucks the trend, though that may change when its new GLC hits its stride next year.

None of this comes as a surprise to Lexus, which claims to have started the luxury SUV theme – overseas at least – with the original RX300 crossover in 1998.

Lexus says the RX350 F Sport (pictured) will be the most popular model. Photo: Supplied

At home, the medium-sized RX SUV has a history of representing 30 to 40 per cent of the brand's sales in Australia, arguably making the model the most important in the brand's local lineup.

Lexus Australia chief Sean Hanley says the new fourth-generation RX seen here is key to the brand's success.

"You have to be in the luxury SUV segment to significantly grow," he says.

"Luxury is outgrowing mainstream cars and that growth is being driven by SUVs, that growth is being driven by new product."

The luxury SUV space has been flooded with new machinery of late, and there's more on the way as brands such as Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Jaguar, Lotus, Lamborghini and Rolls-Royce prepare to enter the luxury SUV market.

The popular SUV has a new look inside and out. Photo: Supplied

So what does Lexus have to offer?

Priced from $73,000 plus on-road costs – nearly $9000 more than the outgoing model – the new RX benefits from a strong standard specification that should meet or exceed what buyers expect from a luxury car.

It has a new look with a more integrated interpretation of Lexus' "spindle grille" front fascia, along with 20-inch alloy wheels and an updated cabin.

Standard kit includes 10-way adjustable seats for the driver and front passenger, an 8.0-inch infotainment display with satellite navigation and a reversing camera, along with a 12-speaker stereo and wireless smartphone charging pad.

The new RX is bigger than its predecessor, with a 50mm wheelbase extension affording additional cabin space in the front and rear.

On the inside, Lexus has simplified the car's dashboard, moving the gear selector from its raised position mid-way up the dashboard to a more conventional position next to the driver's thigh.

A larger display screen, now available in widescreen format, joins the trend for tablet-like displays wedged into the dash rather than nestling into a binnacle. The brand's computer mouse-like remote touch system has been updated, an analogue clock replaces a dated digital variant and designers have used more leather and metal throughout the cabin rather than soft-touch plastic. New doors do away with thick corner-window pillars, improving vision out of the cabin.

It's a lovely place to be, immediately impressive but a little tricky to comprehend at first thanks to Lexus' interpretation of ideal control layouts. There is plenty of space in the front and rear, though unlike some rivals, Lexus does not plan to offer a seven-seat version.

At the back, an electric tailgate opens to reveal a cargo area with a surprisingly high and shallow boot floor that limits practicality. Punctures are accounted for by a space-saver spare tyre that, while inconvenient, is a better bet than increasingly common emergency sealant kits.

As with its predecessor, the RX offers a choice of three engines across three price bands.

As an entry point, the dated 2.7-litre four-cylinder lump from the discontinued RX270 has been replaced by a new 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit that produces more power while using less fuel.

The RX200t's 180kW and 350Nm unit is shared with the brand's fresh NX200t and IS200t duo, serving as a key engine option for several years to come. Paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, the RX200t drives the front wheels only and is available from $73,000 plus on-road costs.

Continuing on with a few tweaks to eke out improved performance and fuel economy, the 3.5-litre V6 of the $80,000 RX350 forms the core of Lexus' updated range. Using 9.6L/100km to produce 221kW and 370Nm, the petrol-powered model drives all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

At the top of the range, the $88,000 RX450h adds hybrid power to the RX350's petrol V6. Taking an oddball approach, Lexus uses a 50kW electric motor on the rear axle with no mechanical link to the front wheels, which are driven by the V6 through a CVT automatic transmission. Offering up 230kW of combined power, the system uses just 5.7L/100km of fuel.

We tested two models on a brief test loop south of Sydney and found that the RX200t makes a fine entry point to the revised range.

The motor is quiet and punchy, feeling more than up for the task of motivating a luxury SUV that weighs the best part of two tonnes.

It's a tractable, impressive unit well mated to its six-speed automatic transmission. For many, this will be all the car they need. The lack of all-wheel-drive will have little practical effect for many buyers, who instead benefit from a lighter and more efficient option.

The RX drives true to form for Lexus. It's impressively quiet on the open road, gliding along with barely any wind or road noise. Its recalibrated steering offers a decent amount of feel and response, though it falls short of dynamic benchmarks such as BMW's X5.

Riding on softer springs and firmer anti-roll bars than its predecessor, the new RX has a composed demeanour with minimal body roll and a well-polished ride for the most part.

Admirable in isolation, the RX200t was noticeably harsher than a RX350 F Sport we tested, nibbling away at bumps that the more expensive model wasn't bothered by. That's likely to be a result of the adaptive sports suspension in the $92,000 V6-powered variant that Lexus expects to be the biggest seller in its range.

Comfortable and compliant, the mid-range model in the RX family strikes a sweet spot that makes it a pleasant place to be. Its V6 engine is smooth and sonorous too, and the eight-speed auto works away with a quiet expertise in the background.

Though it faces fierce competition, the new RX is quintessentially Lexus and a solid pick for luxury motorists.